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SALEM TOWNSHIP -- Winona Fire Chief George Brantingham is questioning whether the township paid all that was owed to his department for services last year.
"We seem to have a discrepancy on what was paid to us last year," he said.
Brantingham spoke to trustees about the issue at Tuesday night's meeting, saying the amount the Columbiana County Auditor's Office told him didn't match with what the township paid, alleging a shortage of $3,000.
Trustees referred him to Fiscal Officer Dale Davis, who said he'll look into it.
After the meeting, Davis said the contract with the Winona Fire Department calls for the township to pay $15,000 after the first tax settlement, then $15,000 after the second tax settlement, then the balance of what's left in the fund Dec. 31. Davis said the township paid $33,265 for last year, but Brantingham is claiming the amount should have been $36,266.
Davis said he'll check the distribution sheets received from the auditor's office, which shows the property tax money amounts.
In a separate fire matter, Constable Dan Valentine, who also serves as the township's fire prevention officer, said he's trying to find grant money for the installation of more dry hydrants in the township. Currently there's only one dry hydrant located on state Route 45. Valentine said he's talked to some property owners with bodies of water willing to have a dry hydrant installed.
He explained that a dry hydrant is a piece of pipe that reaches into a body of water, below what would be the freeze line, and allows for water to be siphoned out by a fire department. He spoke to Salem City Utilities Superintendent Don Weingart about putting one on Gamble Road near the reservoir but was told a letter making the request would have to be sent and the city would choose the location.
Valentine also updated trustees on the cleanups of two fire sites, noting they're making progress at the site of a fire on Farrington last year. He spoke to the insurance company and said there had been issues with a private adjuster. The garage was torn down and work is starting on the structure. He said he had received complaints about the property being an eyesore.
Trustee Chair John Wilms asked about the escrow deposit paid to the township and was told it's $28,000. He also asked about the escrow paid for a property on Lodge Road where there was a garage fire, but Valentine believed the township ordinance only covered residential properties.
Under police business, Valentine reported the department received another certification from the Ohio Collaborative for safe policing. He said the department is one of just a few in the area with all the certifications for reaching state requirements related to community policing, safe policing, use of force and other areas.
The trustees talked with Road Foreman Jason Entrikin about road work and equipment, agreeing to getting five or six loads of emulsion for patching, getting wood to build new road barricades destroyed by drivers hitting them and shopping around for gravel.
About 15 township residents crowded into the small meeting room, many who have been coming to recent meetings either for or against Valentine. Dean Farmer commented that he appreciated Trustee Ray Heddleson reading the material provided to him regarding Valentine and said he found it appalling that Wilms and Trustee Bill Heston didn't read the material. Heston said they didn't need to because they already knew the facts.
The next meeting of the trustees is 7 p.m. March 30.
mgreier@salemnews.net